Suns have 200th consecutive sellout, work to regain momentum as postseason approaches
PHOENIX (AP) — The Phoenix Suns are one of the NBA's feel-good stories this season, having much more success than many anticipated after rebuilding their roster over the summer. Suns CEO Josh Bartelstein says the best part is it's a team he actually enjoys watching. Fans apparently agree with him.
The franchise had its 200th consecutive sellout crowd Saturday night, a 108-105 loss to the Milwaukee Bucks . It's the second-longest streak in franchise history and the fourth-longest in the NBA behind Miami, Golden State and Utah. Local TV ratings are up 64% compared to last season.
Even the current five-game losing streak can't completely dampen the mood. It's going to take more than a rough 10 days to derail the surprising momentum the Suns have built over the past few months. “It's pride in building a team that makes the community, Suns fans, proud,” Bartelstein said.
"That was the goal. It's a basketball city and they love the Suns. We knew if we built a team that resembled the grit, toughness, playing with joy, that this city deserves, with the talent we had and would bring, that we'd be fine.
“Sometimes you've got to go through some tough times to come out on the other side of it. ” The Suns' relative success — they fell to 39-32 after Saturday's loss — comes a year after one of the most disappointing seasons in franchise history. Last year's team was built around the so-called “Big 3” of 15-time All-Star Kevin Durant, Bradley Beal and Devin Booker while being led by veteran coach Mike Budenholzer, who won an NBA title with the Milwaukee Bucks in 2021.